Swollen gum and cheek
 

Hi, I am just curious to know if this means I have an infected tooth? One of them on that side has a cavaty where some of the decayed tooth has broken away, the little bit between the cavaty and the next tooth in line, so it won't be an easy fill IMO, because it's between teeth. :P

The swelling started about a week ago and it feels like that part was hit by novacaine and the novacain has worn almost off, like its partially numb in the cheek and wall of my mouth and the gum from this tooth back about two teeth long. It's hurting a little bit, but I am taking motrin for it. Mostly it's just annoying. :(

What is going on from what I described? Is it infected? I have an appointment to have it yanked in a few weeks but I know they won't yank an infected tooth, so what should I do? Any advice appreciated. Thank you in advance. :)

Hi Pamster,

Yes, your description does sound like a tooth infection that has spread to the jawbone. FYI.......Once the cheek becomes swollen, it is not a good idea to put off treatment because that is an indication that the area is overwhelmed by inflammation. Lower teeth in the back of the mouth can swell internally closing off the airway. I blurt that out to let you know that this may be more urgent than you realize.

Please if at all possible, do not wait to see an oral surgeon. Initially you may be put on antibiotics to reduce some of the inflammation and then within a few days the tooth would be removed. If the swelling gets too large or too extensive, then the surgeon may have to make an incision to drain the infection, put you on antibiotics for a few days and then remove the tooth. This double surgical scenerio is most avoidable if you do not wait to get treatment.

I'm sorry you are enduring this :-(( Please let us know how you are doing!

Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna, I am going to call my doctor and see if I can get some antibiotics for this, I am convinced it's infected, it's hurting too much to not be infected. :( Funny thing is it came out of nowhere, just POW it's infected like overnight! :p

I'll keep you posted, thanks for the help, I should have called the dr today...but I wanted your take on this first. Thanks for posting to me about it Bryanna, I feel it's gonna stink losing yet another tooth but I can't take the pain any longer. :(

Hey Pamster,

How are you doing?? Did you get to see your dentist?

Please post when you can :-)

Bryanna

I go tomorrow to have it extracted I called my PCP and he called in some PenVK for me back when I last posted and the pain and swelling went down. I'll let you know tomorrow how the extraction goes Bryanna, thanks for your support. :)

Boy it hurts...
 

The dentist extracted it easily thank God, but he said there was some drainage into the bone beginning and he scraped the heck out of it and rinsed it with sterile salt water. He told me it would heal up fine now. THe novacaine is wearing off and it's hurting now. But at least it's all over. :)

Hi Pamster,

Well I am SO glad that bad tooth is out!! But I'm sorry you are in pain :-(
Did the dentist give you a prescription for pain meds?
Even OTC advil or motrin works pretty well if you take it before the hard pain sets in. It's not as effective if you wait too long.

I'm sure you are relieved to have this over with....... please follow the post op instructions and rinse with warm salt water starting tomorrow. The salt water helps the area to heal and it keeps it clean too.

Thanks for checking back in with us....... hope to hear from you again soon.

Bryanna



QUOTE=Pamster;486015]The dentist extracted it easily thank God, but he said there was some drainage into the bone beginning and he scraped the heck out of it and rinsed it with sterile salt water. He told me it would heal up fine now. THe novacaine is wearing off and it's hurting now. But at least it's all over. :)[/QUOTE]

Well I have pain medication I take from my pain management Dr. and so I take that three times a day, vicodin 350/10 mg. and it's helping a bit but I am definitely feeling pain....I had some tomato soup tonight and feel good like no nausea thank heavens, but the bad news is there is a tooth next to where this one was that I might not be able to hang onto until the free dental clinic in July, so I am kinda down about that, if it gets infected like this other one did OUT it comes...I am making another appt with the dentist just in case and they don't mind if I end up cancelling it because things aren't bad, and then making another appt for another month later, so month to month we'll go playing it by ear. :)

Hi Pamster,

How are you doing? Has the pain subsided?

I hope you are feeling better...... drop us a note when you can!

Bryanna

Pain is pretty much gone and I was a good girl with the salt rinses, and NOT drinking soda. It's healing up nicely too. I am thankful we were able to get to it when we did, it could have become life threatening and that is a terrible way to go. :(

Thanks Bryanna for all your encouragement and support! :D